Mission Impossible? Ships in Bottles

You know the one: that cute little three-masted ship sitting proudly on your grandfather’s mantelpiece, or in the window of an old café. A tiny little ship, trapped inside a glass bottle. And every time, you think the same thing: how did they do that?

That very question has puzzled people for centuries. But the real story behind the bottle ship is even more surprising than you might think.

For example, did you know that ship models are much older than the bottle itself? The ancient Egyptians already included small ships as grave goods. Later, they were placed in churches or chapels as ex-votos—a kind of religious offering. Or they were admired at world’s fairs. And one of them—a model of the sloop with which Napoleon made his entry into Antwerp in 1810—even received a royal visit at its unveiling.

But who ever came up with the idea of putting a ship like that in a bottle? And how on earth do you get it in there? You'll find the answer in our scroll story in the ErfgoedApp.

Even more treasures to discover

Want to see more? Be sure to check out these stories and tours in the ErfgoedApp:

Herring galore

The herring boat first appeared in the 15th century. This model ship symbolizes the historically significant herring fishery along the Flemish coast, which emerged around the year 1000. Population growth and the rise of cities created a greater need for food. The solution? Fish! Because herring were plentiful

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De Smet Shipyard and Ferry

For centuries, the Leie arm in Gottem was home to a ferry. The last ferrymen on this ferry were Adolf De Smet and his son Cyrie

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Bike route along dredging finds - Baasrode

The Scheldt has always been a busy waterway. Throughout history, ships have grown larger and larger, and from the end of the 19th century

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